Great Little Trains of the Rhine Valley

September 2020 - October 2021

6 days from £729pp

Soak up the breathtaking scenery of the Rhine Valley whilst experiencing fantastic rail journeys, from the legendary Dragon Rock Railway to the historic Vulkan Express. Traverse the Ayr Valley on a horse-drawn carriage and enjoy a boat trip along the Rhine.

Journey on the unforgettable Dragon Rock Railway

Visit the scenic beauty of the Ahr valley by rail

Journey on the historic Vulkan Express

Visit Bonn to explore its famous landmarks

Experience a horse-drawn carriage ride in the Ahr valley

Visit the riverside town of Rüdesheim by rail and cruise

Description

Itinerary

What's Included

Travel Options

Dates & Prices

Reviews

Travel through the storybook landscape of the Rhine Valley with this picture-perfect break. You’ll be surrounded by towering hilltops, ancient castles, enchanting forests and old-world towns - all infused with history and legends - bound together by the mighty Rhine. Our relaxing holiday is a wonderful way to see this famous River Valley as we step aboard the Vulkan Express, a preserved railway that whisks you away to the Eifel Mountains. We enjoy a journey on the Dragon Rock Railway - home to a German legend, ride in a horse-drawn carriage in the beautiful Ahr Valley, take a scenic boat trip along the Rhine and discover the pretty wine town of Rüdesheim. All of which is enjoyed from our riverside base with rail travel throughout.

Day 1: London – Remagen

We journey from London to Brussels by Eurostar, where we join the high-speed rail connection to Cologne. From here we take a local train along the Rhine to Remagen and check in at our hotel, our base for the next five nights.

Day 2: Bonn – Drachenfels Railway

Our rail journey today takes us to Bonn, the birthplace of Beethoven and the former capital of western Germany. Bonn is a great place to explore, with a long and interesting history to discover before enjoying a scenic boat trip along the Rhine which takes us to Königswinter. From here we take a journey on a small train up the Drachenfels (Dragon Rock). This is the most famous of the seven Siebengebirge Mountains and, according to legend, is where Siegfried slew the dragon that lived in a cave on the mountain. Although you aren’t likely to spot any dragons on your train ride, the scenery is striking. After a delightful return journey, we take a train and a ferry across the Rhine and return to our hotel.

Day 3: Ahr Valley

We travel by train along the Ahr valley, an area of broad plateaux and narrow gorges where picturesque half-timbered towns nestle in the landscape and castles crown hill summits. This is the most northerly of Germany’s wine-producing regions that is mostly dedicated to the production of red wines. Seldom is this wine exported so our special excursion to Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler will give us the opportunity to sample some and purchase a souvenir bottle or two, as well as enjoying a horse-drawn carriage ride.

Day 4: Vulkan Express

We enjoy a nostalgic ride on the Vulkan Express, a privately owned narrow gauge train. The journey, through one of the most scenic valleys of the Rhine, takes 1½ hours, passing castles, crossing viaducts and going through a tunnel as we ascend the Eifel Mountains to the village of Engeln.

Day 5: Rüdesheim

Today we travel through the Rhine Gorge by train, passing the legendary Lorelei to reach the quaint wine town of Rüdesheim. The Drosselgasse is the hub, lined with taverns serving the Rheingau region’s finest riesling wines. The Niederwald monument, which depicts the mythical figure of Germania, can be reached by cable car, where spectacular views of the Rhine valley and castles can be enjoyed. The ruins of Ehrenfels Castle are another idyllic location, surrounded by vineyards above the Rhine Gorge. After lunch we cruise along the Rhine River and pass the legendary Lorelei, which soars 120 meters above the river to St Gorshausen, and take the train back to Remagen.

Day 6: Remagen – London

We depart our hotel in the morning and retrace our route to Brussels, where we join Eurostar for the return to London.

MAP ROUTE:

Return Eurostar from London to Brussels

Return rail from Brussels to Cologne and connecting rail journey to Remagen

Five nights’ half board accommodation in Remagen

Services of our experienced Tour Manager

Travel by Eurostar

Step aboard Eurostar at London St Pancras for a fast and comfortable journey to mainland Europe. You can even upgrade your reserved seat to first class – speak to our Holiday Advisors for more information. On arrival in Paris, Lille or Brussels, you will then join connecting services for your onward journey.

For those travelling from further afield, you can also book overnight accommodation before and after your holiday. Speak to our Holiday Advisors for more information.

Meet us at our hotel

If you would like to make your own travel arrangements, you can meet us at our hotel. This package will not include flights or transfers. If you require any further information to assist with your travel plans, please contact our friendly reservations team who will be happy to help.

Please contact us to enquire about our ‘meet us there’ holiday discounts.

Dates:

2020

7 September 2020

12 October 2020

2021

19 April 2021

13 September 2021

4 October 2021

Prices:

All prices listed are per person

Twin/double share: from £695

Single room supplement: from £100

Meet us there: SAVE £100 per person

Deposit: £150

Your Accommodation

Hotel Pinger, Remagen

★★★

Overview

This 3-star hotel is owned by the Pinger family, who have been running hotels in the area since 1938. Conveniently located close to the railway station and town centre, the hotel’s comfortable en-suite rooms have a TV and telephone. Hotel facilities include a restaurant, coffee shop, bar and outside seating area. The hotel has a lift.